Gendine of Radharc Hold urged her runnerbeast up to a trot from her spot in the middle of the pen with a light clap of her hands. Indeed, that leg was looking good, supporting weight well again. Olarc, Radharc's journeyman Beastherder had outdone himself again. Usually, custom would have dictated that the Beastherder put down a runnerbeast with a lame leg, but Genny had pleaded and pleaded with him try any alternative. At last, he had found and cut out, with the generous help of redwort, numweed, and fellis, a solid lump that had been forming near the knee joint. Now the area had healed up with a proud scar and the animal could stand, and now even run, without whinnying in pain. It had been too long since she had been out in the fields with her runnerbeast, Star, a gift from her father on her eighth Turn. Star may have been pushing her prime, having come to her after settling into the resignation of many years of training, but Genny was determined to keep her in good health for as long as possible.
Not only had Star been lame for the past two fortnights, but it had been busy around the Hold, with the Lady Holder's recent reduction in duties on account of her being laid up with child. Because Genny had always been quick to volunteer for extra responsibilities and finished them with greater speed and efficiency than any other holder assigned the task, the Lady Holder had taken her under her wing and asked her to be her right hand assistant. As of late, these responsibilities left little time for herself.
Genny took one last deep breath of the sweet air flavored with budding flowers blowing through the outdoor enclosure. After retreating inside and hanging up Star's tack in the stables, Genny shuffled down to the wash room to remove the dirt and sweat she had accumulated, which would not mix well with the kitchens to which she was headed. After a quick scrub down, her long hair still damp, Genny turned her attention towards progress for the nightly meal. She checked in with the drudges who were tending cooking fires – adjusting the flames on most, correcting the rotation speed of the main spit, and adding seasoning, as needed. Although they were well-meaning and suited to routines, Genny, and the other Holders, preferred her nuanced direction of the flavors, which could depend on the wherry diet, the type and condition of wood in the fires, and age of the spices.
She found the taste of one pot of stew to be lacking and ran up to her room to quickly fetch the missing flavor. Genny had a small garden in her windowsill which she specially cultivated. With the few extra marks she saved up, Genny always sought out the stalls that featured aromatic plants at Gathers. While these stalls were mostly patronized for flowering flora that could be given as gifts the receiver would inevitably allow to wilt die, Genny sought out the most medicinal and fragrant ones and tended them with the utmost care. As such, she had accumulated quite the store of herbs and spices that she often employed in addition to the Hold's seasoning stores.
She was on her way back down to the kitchens via the Main Hall, fresh sage in hand, when she saw the visitors arrive. Genny had time after time proven herself most capable in managing Hold affairs and representing the Hold to the public. Genny rushed to welcome travelers to Radharc and was often the first face they saw. This was in sharp contrast to her mother, who seemed to disappear when visitors arrived; trained as an archivist at Harper Hall, Genny's mother preferred the company of old, musty scrolls to that of newcomers. Genny detoured to approach the jerkin-clad arrivals.
"Greetings Radharc Hold, I am M'tou, rider of bronze Calleth and this is T'mir, rider of blue Tolluth. We are here on behalf of High Reaches Weyr on a Search. The Queen Azirith has laid a clutch, including the golden egg of a queen. As you know, as Holders, part of your tithe duty is to furnish promising Candidates for the Weyrs. In these times of low dragon birthrates, I need not remind you of how critically important these Searches are, especially for queens candidates. Please round up your girls, 14-20 who are not with child and boys 12-18 for inspection." M'tou announced as he entered the hall.
It was especially in times such as these, without the Lady Holder able to oversee basic duties, that Genny took charge of the situation, "We are about half an hour from supper, would you dine with us while the young ones get prepared?"
M'tou looked curiously at the girl. "With pleasure," he replied. "And you? You should prepare as well. You are in the age range, are you not?"
"Oh me," Genny laughed, "Yes, I at seventeen, I fall in that range. Anyone here can tell you I can count. I'm one of the best at it! As such, I'm afraid I'll have to be staying behind. There's no way this Hold could get on without me." In her heart, Genny had always dreamed of befriending a dragon. She gazed longingly at the species on the rare occasion that one would grace her lesser Hold. Still, her duty bound her to know that her place was in her Hold.
"On the contrary, miss...? You are just the kind of young woman a queen might demand for her Weyr. You are absolutely coming with us. You heard the man, it's all an established part of the tithe. Surely there can be no arguments about that." The bluerider assured her.
"Gendine, my name is Gendine, although everyone calls me Genny. Well, we'll see what my mother thinks about this. She's never keen on me leaving Radharc territory. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to oversee the places being set, especially in accordance with hosting our guests of honor." She said, indicating them with a nod of her head.
"Certainly," M'tou smiled after her as she scampered off. What a capable young woman, how I could imagine her leading the Weyr he thought. Indeed Callath responded.
After dinner, the forty other children meeting the eligibility criteria were assembled in front of M'tou and T'mir just outside the Great Hall. Tolluth took interest in four of the boys as each one stepped forward in turn. None of the fifteen other girls presented seemed to catch either dragon's attention. "Ok, since it's just the five of you, and you're all pretty small, I think we can manage in one trip. We've brought along plenty of riding harnesses. Come on over and hold on tight, so no one gets lost in the cold between. The rest of you are dismissed back to your parents." M'tou announced. Genny turned with the rest of them.
"Ah, ah, ah, not so fast little lady," M'tou cautioned. "You are coming with us. Surely you know how to count? You told us so yourself! Why else would I have said five when only four boys were standing here? Come, you can sit here in front of me, you'll have the best view."
"Dragonrider, Dragonrider!" A shrill voice pierced through the commotion. "I'm sorry, I really think there has been a misunderstanding. You can't just simply take my daughter!" Genny's father, who had been quietly present since dinner began, chased after his fuming wife who had apparently just heard the news.
"Please ma'am, this is how things are done. We will send other riders to gather the parents of all Candidates as the Hatching gets closer. There's nothing you can do for now." The bluerider explained.
Before taking M'tou's extended hand, Genny went up and gave each of her parents a hug in turn. Her mother began sobbing tearfully, while her father calmly patted her on the back. "Don't worry, there's always a chance she doesn't choose me. I'll be back before you know it. And now you'll have an excuse to visit a Weyr. I know Father always enjoys checking out their structure and Mother, I've heard the dinners are simply inspirational." Genny smiled. M'tou marveled at how she had done and said everything that could have calmed the pair. He really hoped he had found the new Weyrwoman.